My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 215

215. Hidden Funds…? (2)

Sian stared blankly into space, his mind reeling for a moment.

Elan Dur’s hidden funds.

Of course, Elan Dur’s hidden funds were, in name only, Elan Dur’s.

In reality, they were the Brahe Merchant Group’s funds.

The massive capital held by the great merchant group that dominated the West.

Therefore, he could somewhat understand what Hans was saying now.

So, it was within the realm of understanding, somehow.

“Does that… make sense?”

But it still didn’t make sense!

A few years ago, Soren had run off with about 340 million gold from Brahe’s funds.

It was truly an astronomical sum, and the entire empire had been abuzz for a while.

Of course, it could have been different from what was known to the public.

That is, the amount he ran off with could have been even greater.

But it would have been, at most, around 50 million.

Though one might question the use of ‘at most’ before 50 million.

Let’s move on for now.

Then, at most, it would be 390 million.

No, let’s just say 400 million.

“400… 80 million?”

But why was there an extra 80 million gold?

This didn’t make sense.

Hidden funds were, as the name suggested, hidden funds.

Isabelle would have been siphoning off bits and pieces while doing countless dirty deeds.

So, it should have definitely decreased.

It should have decreased by at least 100 million from the original 400 million gold.

But it had increased?

“What is this…?”

Sian wondered what the situation was.

“I, I don’t know either…”

Hans also seemed unsure about what he had said.

Could Hans have misheard?

Could he have misheard 48 million gold instead of 480 million gold?

It seemed more likely.

It seemed like he had to check it himself.

“Where is Amelia now?”

Sian immediately got up from his seat.

#

The residence prepared by the people of Benia Village.

Amelia was staying in a house in Benia Village.

Knock knock.

“Amelia, it’s me. Are you inside?”

Along with the knock, a busy movement was felt from inside the house.

-Lord? P, please come in!

Then, Amelia’s flustered voice was heard.

Sian lightly turned the doorknob and opened the door to the room.

Click.

The door opened, revealing a house of about 5 pyeong (approximately 180 square feet) [pyeong is a Korean unit of area, approximately 3.3 square meters].

It was hard to tell whether it was a house or a room for a moment.

“When did you wake up?”

Amelia’s face, a beautiful woman with long red hair, was visible through the fully opened door.

“Just now. I haven’t been awake for long.”

“But is it okay for you to move like this? How’s your body? Are you alright?”

Amelia asked in a flurry.

Amelia had a very worried expression.

It seemed that she had been in a pretty bad state when she fainted.

And well…

Actually, he wasn’t in very good condition either.

His eyelids kept closing due to the overwhelming sense of fatigue.

Was it because he had seen the realm beyond?

He still had a dizzying headache.

Above all, the side effects of Megingjörð [a magical belt in Norse mythology that doubles the wearer’s strength].

Every time he took a step, the muscles all over his body screamed.

It was fortunate that he had done strength training, or he wouldn’t have been able to move.

No, he wouldn’t have been able to use Asura [a powerful combat skill or state].

Well, anyway.

He wasn’t in a state to move his body.

“I can handle it.”

But Sian nodded, saying he was okay.

His body condition and everything else didn’t matter, because that wasn’t the problem right now.

“Can I sit down?”

“Ah! Yes! Of course.”

Amelia was startled by Sian’s words and nodded.

And she looked like she hadn’t been able to pay attention, but Sian didn’t really care.

Sian looked around the room.

And since there were no chairs, he had no choice but to go to the bed and sit down with a thud.

“There’s no point in wasting time in many ways, so I’ll get straight to the point.”

Amelia straightened her posture at Sian’s straightforward words.

Sian looked into Amelia’s eyes and immediately opened his mouth.

“Elan Dur’s hidden funds. Is it really… 480 million gold?”

“Uh… no?”

Then Amelia tilted her head and answered.

Sian slowly nodded.

That’s right.

No matter how much, how could it be 480 million gold?

Hans must have misheard.

Sian chuckled and shook his head.

And just as the words ‘Then how much…?’ were about to come out of his throat.

“It’s a little over 500 million gold.”

Stunned.

Sian’s body stiffened without him realizing it.

A dazed mind.

What did Amelia just say?

“50 million gold?”

“Pardon? No. 500 million gold.”

Amelia answered as if asking what he was talking about.

And the answer was no different from before.

No, is there something wrong with my ears?

Or is my mental state messed up?

I feel like something went wrong while using Asura.

Did my mind become dazed while crossing the distant realm?

“500… million gold?”

“Yes.”

But Amelia only nodded.

“……”

Sian was speechless.

He was really speechless.

500 million gold.

“H, how on earth?!”

What could he say in front of this astronomical amount!

His eyes widened.

Sian leaned his face close to Amelia and shouted.

“Ah… well, that is.”

Amelia slowly opened her mouth.

And the explanation that followed.

It was quite a complicated and difficult explanation, but it wasn’t at a level that he couldn’t understand.

So, he could understand the reason why Elan Dur’s hidden funds were 500 million gold.

“Isabelle did siphon off bits and pieces of the hidden funds, right?”

First of all, as Sian had expected, Isabelle had siphoned off the hidden funds.

“Yes. Rather than bits and pieces… she took out a lot.”

Every time she took it out, she took it out in units of 10 million.

Also, it was true that she did dirty deeds with the money she took out.

But that wasn’t all she did.

“Most of it was used to start businesses?”

“Yes. It’s more accurate to say that she took out the hidden funds to start businesses.”

From what he heard, mining, manufacturing, wholesale, commerce, etc.

She started businesses in various fields to the point where she didn’t leave any untouched.

And if she started a business, there would be profits accordingly.

“Most of the profits earned were put back into the hidden funds.”

She said that most of the profits were put back into the hidden funds.

In other words, she didn’t siphon off the hidden funds, but invested them.

“There was also quite a bit of money that came in from the Aveneu family this time.”

In addition, the Aveneu family also added some money to these hidden funds.

That amount was about 40 million gold.

It was by no means an amount that could be defined as a few coins, but in front of these hidden funds, it was a few coins.

Well, anyway.

The existing 340 million gold, which was the capital of the Brahe Merchant Group.

The gold that Isabelle had rolled and rolled for several years.

And the few coins added by the Aveneu family.

All those golds were combined.

“It’s a little over 500 million gold.”

This absurd amount was gathered.

“……”

Sian was speechless.

It’s 500 million gold.

Not 50 million gold, but 500 million gold.

It’s even a little over 500 million gold.

“The preparations for you to receive it are all finished. All procedures will be completed once the lord signs one approval document.”

You can get that transcendental money with just one approval document.

“……”

Sian really had nothing to say.

What could he say!

Sian stared blankly at Amelia for a while.

And Amelia’s appearance was really terrible.

Dark circles that had come down almost to the bridge of her nose.

He wondered if she had even slept.

Her fair skin was cracked little by little because she couldn’t take care of it.

The red hair that had been glossy was very dry.

On the surface, Amelia’s condition seemed worse than Sian’s.

Was it because of that?

Sian chuckled without realizing it.

Amelia tilted her head.

Sian said to Amelia.

“Amelia. I have something to say regarding these hidden funds.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

Amelia straightened her posture again at Sian’s rather serious expression.

“I have no intention of taking all of these hidden funds.”

“…… Yes?”

For a moment, Amelia had a bewildered expression.

“What… what do you mean by that…?”

Somehow, she didn’t seem to understand Sian’s words.

Well, how could she understand?

But Sian’s thoughts remained unchanged.

Sian had no intention of taking these hidden funds as they were.

Of course, it wasn’t a foolish idea to divide it among Elan Dur.

Why would he do such a crazy thing?

What Sian said didn’t mean that.

“Amelia, I’m going to give it to you.”

“T, to me?”

Sian nodded.

Elan Dur’s hidden funds amounting to 500 million gold.

But in fact, it wasn’t Elan Dur’s hidden funds.

Long ago, the funds of the Brahe Merchant Group.

Although it has now fallen, it could be said to be the money of the Brahe family.

Isabelle had increased that money, but it was possible because there was a basic fund from Brahe.

And Amelia was the daughter of the Brahe family.

Therefore, this money could be said to originally belong to Amelia.

It was money that had to return to its original owner after a long time.

“I will only receive the money excluding Brahe’s money.”

Of course… he was going to take care of Sian’s share as well.

So, 340 million, which was originally Brahe’s.

He was going to take only about 160 million, excluding that amount.

And he had been thinking about this from the beginning.

From the time he knew that Elan Dur’s hidden funds were the funds of the Brahe Merchant Group.

From the time he thought about finding Elan Dur’s hidden funds.

Sian had been thinking about this from the beginning.

“I… I…”

Amelia began to stammer and talk nonsense.

Her eyes looking at Sian were trembling severely.

But that was only for a moment.

“……”

Amelia lowered her head.

To be honest, to be honest.

It wasn’t that Amelia hadn’t thought about this either.

For the past few years since the fall of Brahe.

Amelia had roamed the empire as a woman to revive the fallen family.

But she was blocked by the inevitable wall of reality and frustrated.

She had despaired countless times at the reality that she couldn’t do anything no matter how hard she struggled.

But with this money… it was possible.

With this money, it was possible to revive the fallen Brahe family.

It was fully possible to revive the family she had longed for.

Above all, this money originally belonged to Brahe.

Even if Amelia had it, no one could say anything.

But she was thinking that she shouldn’t do that.

But now, Sian’s words.

Amelia slowly raised her head.

Sian was quietly looking at her.

But his eyes, which seemed to say that what he had just said was not empty words, contained sincerity.

Was it because of that?

“Thank you… Lord.”

Amelia felt deeply grateful to Sian at that moment.

For saying those words and making that decision.

“It’s nothing. It wasn’t my money to begin with anyway.”

Sian nodded lightly.

He didn’t seem to begrudge giving Amelia the money at all.

Even though Sian loved money and was often consumed by it.

At this moment, Sian didn’t seem to begrudge parting with it at all.

This was a world where people would turn their backs on close friends for a mere 1,000 gold [currency in this world].

This was a world where siblings and parents would betray each other for 10,000 gold.

So, if it were hundreds of millions of gold, one could easily imagine someone nodding and saying, ‘It’s okay to stab them in the back.’

Soren had actually done that.

But Sian didn’t.

A simple, yet significant difference.

Perhaps that’s why.

Maybe that was the reason.

Amelia offered a small smile.

“But I won’t accept it.”

“…What?”

Sian looked genuinely taken aback for a moment.

Amelia couldn’t help but laugh at his dumbfounded expression.

“I know what you mean, Lord. But… I still won’t accept it.”

“Why… ?”

Sian asked, looking utterly perplexed.

Amelia didn’t answer.

She simply smiled.

Because Amelia couldn’t find the right words to explain.

“With this money, you can rebuild the Brahe family. That’s what you’ve always dreamed of.”

The story they had shared when they first met Sian.

Even after so much time, Sian had not forgotten that story.

Yes, it was a long time ago.

Rebuilding the fallen Brahe family.

That was what Amelia had dreamed of for so long.

The reason she came to work under Sian.

The reason she developed Ruben [the territory/business they are developing] with Sian.

It was all to rebuild the Brahe family.

At first, her meeting with Sian had a clear purpose.

Sian wanted gold from Amelia.

Amelia wanted some power from Sian.

In a way, they were using each other.

However, she believed that they could support each other in that arrangement.

But.

“It’s not anymore.”

That wasn’t the case anymore.

While watching Ruben develop more and more successfully.

While witnessing the laughter of the lost people being restored.

Amelia’s thoughts gradually changed.

To be exact, she wanted to stay with them a little longer.

But every time that feeling arose, Amelia restrained herself.

Because Amelia had a mission that she had to fulfill.

Because she had a destiny to rebuild the fallen family.

That’s how Amelia kept herself in check.

And Soren, whom she was able to confront this time.

The mastermind behind the fall of the Brahe family and the remnants of the past.

Soren was just a traitor.

There was no compelling reason why he had to betray the family.

There was no grand narrative that justified his actions.

He was simply a traitor corrupted by greed.

She felt empty.

The fact that the family, which was everything to Amelia, had fallen due to mere greed.

The fact that it fell due to simple avarice, not a heartbreaking and unavoidable tragedy.

The truth she faced was so futile.

But why?

On one hand, she felt relieved.

The ghost of the past she had been chasing for so long.

The moment she faced the absurd truth, she felt a compulsion in her heart disappear.

Why was I trying to rebuild Brahe?

Why was I so obsessed with reviving the family?

Brahe has fallen.

This is an unchangeable past.

A past that cannot be altered no matter how hard you try.

I wasn’t really trying to rebuild Brahe.

Maybe I just wanted to change that past.

Amelia’s dream is still to rebuild the fallen family.

She will not give up on that dream.

However, shouldn’t the direction be reconsidered?

Not the fallen Brahe of the past.

Not chasing after the irreversible past.

“I like Ruben, where I live now.”

The present, right now.

Not the Brahe of the past, but the new Brahe, the Ruben Brahe Merchant [a new merchant guild/company].

“Please use this money, not for me, but for yourself, Lord.”

Amelia decided to pursue the present and the future, not the past anymore.

Amelia finished her words and smiled shyly.

And Sian couldn’t say anything.

Amelia’s words just now.

Amelia’s expression just now.

It was a face that was exhausted, but somehow also relieved.

And it was quite similar to Sian’s current state.

It looked like she had broken free from something that had been holding her back.

Just as Sian had cut off the past through Roswell and Nathan.

Could it be that Amelia also broke the shackles of the past by facing Soren?

He couldn’t be sure.

“So you have to take responsibility for me, Lord.”

Amelia just smiled shyly.

“Ah, ah…! Th, th, that’s… Th, that’s not what I mean…!”

In an instant, Amelia’s face flushed red.

She panicked greatly and waved her hands.

“So… taking responsibility doesn’t mean that… Ah, no, that doesn’t mean that….”

Once again, Amelia’s face flushed red.

Amelia covered her face with her two hands, waving them in a hurry.

Sian watched the scene and laughed.

Amelia, who always presented such a smart and capable appearance.

At times like this, she was just a fragile girl.

Sian slowly approached Amelia.

Amelia, who was covering her face with both hands, didn’t notice Sian coming closer.

Sian gently hugged Amelia.

“Ha, hot…!”

Amelia was horrified and surprised.

But she didn’t resist much and hugged Sian back.

Sian said to Amelia.

“I will definitely take responsibility.”

“Re, re, re, re, re, responsibility… responsibility… responsibility…”

Amelia’s voice was almost inaudible.

Amelia’s face, which was visible between the fingers covering her face.

It was hard to tell whether the red face was a human face or a carrot.

Soon, a strange sound was heard from Amelia, who was hugged in his arms.

It was a fleeting moment to wonder if this sound could even be heard from a person.

It seemed like hot steam was rising above Amelia’s head.

It was like a magic tool had overloaded and broken down.

Thud.

As expected, Amelia collapsed powerlessly to the floor.

#

The broken Amelia was not fixed even after a long time.

Usually, if you left her alone, she would recover on her own, but this time it wasn’t happening.

Could there be something wrong with her body?

Sian immediately asked Hans for help.

Hans examined Amelia’s condition with Bonita.

After all, examining a woman’s body required another woman.

Bonita, who examined Amelia’s condition, told Hans this and that, and soon Hans looked at Sian.

“What did you do to Amelia?”

And for some reason, he gave Sian a knowing look.

“What do you mean, what did I do? What did I do?”

“She’s exhausted from excessive excitement. Still, that’s not normal. Did you keep going until Amelia was completely exhausted?”

“What are you talking about? What did I do? I didn’t do anything.”

Sian waved his hand as if he was being wrongly accused.

I really didn’t do anything!

It was just a light hug to express my gratitude for her hard work.

And all I said was that I would take responsibility, meaning I’d take responsibility for her well-being.

But Amelia just broke down on her own.

“It’s not that I’m going to interfere with my young master’s personal life….”

“Why, Hans? Even Count Sian is a grown man. And the Brahe young lady is quite a beauty.”

But the conversation between Hans and Bonita was not normal.

It looked like they were misunderstanding something.

“No. I really didn’t do anything.”

Sian shouted as if he was wronged.

“Yes, I understand. I won’t say anything to the Princess, so don’t worry.”

“Princess? Wow! Count, you’re amazing? Well… if it’s about Count Sian…”

Somehow, it wasn’t working at all.

That’s how Hans and Bonita took Amelia out of the room.

They kept muttering something while taking Amelia away, but Sian didn’t listen.

It was clear that it would only be a waste of breath if he spoke.

Above all, there was something he had to deal with right now.

“500 million gold….”

None other than Elan Dur’s slush fund [secret, illegal fund].

To be honest, it wasn’t a very appealing amount.

So, he wondered if this amount could really be put in the inventory [referring to a game-like inventory system Sian has].

However, the payment document left by Amelia clearly stated 500 million gold.

After much thought, Sian wrote his name on the payment document.

Now, all he had to do was receive the slush fund with this payment document.

Amelia had broken down, but….

Still, thanks to Amelia’s completion of all the procedures, there was no difficulty in doing it alone.

He could have waited for Amelia to recover, but this time the period was long.

He didn’t know how Isabel would react if he dragged on the time for no reason.

Sian immediately visited the cities Amelia had written down with the payment document.

And the process and procedure were very simple.

Again, Amelia had finished everything.

“W, w, w, wait a minute… Please wait a minute!!!”

Of course, there was quite a commotion.

And the astronomical amount of 500 million gold was moving.

“I heard that a huge amount of money moved to the south?”

“I heard that there was a rumor that it was Elan Dur’s slush fund.”

Unknowingly, rumors couldn’t help but spread.

Still, he was able to receive all the slush funds without any problems.

[Currently holding gold] – 521,345,000 G

That’s how Sian was able to receive all the slush funds.

“….”

Sian stared blankly at his smartphone.

The amount on the screen was 521,345,000 gold.

It was a whopping 500 million and 21 million gold.

Is this… is this an acceptable amount?

What he saw in front of him was a clear reality, but his head couldn’t quite grasp the current situation.

Sian really stared blankly at the screen of his smartphone.

Right then.

Ding!

Suddenly, a cheerful notification sound was heard from the smartphone.

He wondered what it was.

《Mobile Lord is back!》

The Mobile Lord’s notification window popped up on the screen.

It seemed like the maintenance was over at a good time.

《Mobile Lord resurrected like a dog after a long maintenance!》

《Therefore, the Mobile Lord has become transcendentally powerful!》

Ding!

《Mobile Lord who no longer faints! Now, he has become the God-bile Lord beyond the King-bile Lord!》

《If you faint again, it’s not the God-bile Lord!》

《I’m King! Ha! God! Enemy~☆》

As expected, the Mobile Lord’s usual antics hadn’t changed.

It was as if the fuss had become even stronger with the maintenance.

《Now, let’s all shout together!》

《Mobile Lord like a dog!》

Pause.

At that moment, the Mobile Lord paused for a moment.

It wasn’t certain.

It could have just been a glitch.

[Currently holding gold] – 521,345,000 G

But Sian felt like the Mobile Lord was looking at this screen.

《Like a dog!》

《Like a dog…!》

[Currently holding gold] – 521,345,000 G

《Like a dog… Like a dog….》

《Like… a dog….》

《Li, li, li… ke a dog….》

Ding!

《…Exit!!!!!!!》

Kkeok.

[Extended maintenance will be performed.]

[The connection to the server has been lost. The Mobile Lord will be terminated.]

“…What is going on?”

Sian wondered what kind of spectacle he had just witnessed.